Going into the 2024 MLB season, the Milwaukee Brewers faced a problem that every organization loves to have: which young stars will play in the outfield every day. With Christian Yelich in left field and star phenom Jackson Chouio in right field, center field was a real competition between Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Blake Perkins, and Joey Wiemer.
The four young outfielders vying for the starting job in center field were/are elite defenders. What it came down to, though, was which players were the better hitters. Unfortunately for Wiemer, his offense was not as good as the others, and ended up being sent to Triple-A Nashville to start the season.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Outfielder Joey Wiemer Struggled in 2024
In 2023, Wiemer did not make the Brewers’ Opening Day roster. He was, however, called up for the second game of the season due to an injury. He ended up playing 132 games for the Brewers, hitting .204/.283/.362 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.
Unfortunately, Wiemer could not find his hitting stroke in Triple-A Nashville or Milwaukee in 2024. In 19 games for the Brewers last season, he hit a woeful .154/.185/.154.
He struggled in Triple-A, too, hitting .242/.387/.358 with three home runs and 21 RBI.
With Milwaukee’s outfield crowded and Wiemer’s bat cold, it was apparent that he would not be a regular Major League player for the Brewers any time soon. Since the team needed starting pitching, he and Jakob Junis were traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Frankie Montas.
Wiemer did not fare any better for the Reds either. He only played two games for them on the Major League level, but did not record a hit in his two plate appearances. Down in Louisville, Cincinnati’s Triple-A team, he hit just .191/.280/.229.
The Cincinnati Reds Just Traded Joey Wiemer to the Kansas City Royals
Earlier on Friday night, the Kansas City Royals announced that they had acquired Wiemer and former National League Rookie of the Year Jonathan India from the Reds in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brady Singer:
We have acquired INF Jonathan India and OF Joey Wiemer from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RHP Brady Singer.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) November 23, 2024
While this trade is notable for the Brewers because of Wiemer’s involvement, it is also worth noting that India averaged a home run in every four games he played against Milwaukee. He hit five in 20 games.
It is also worth keeping an eye on because Singer is a talented starting pitcher. He was only 9-13 last year, but had a 3.72 ERA 1.28 WHIP.
In the only game he started against the Brewers in his career (which was last season), Singer gave up one run on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings.
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